Lizzie, Scotty and I had so much fun on their San Luis Obispo engagement session! From hitting CAL Poly’s campus and their old dormitory where they first met to their old, favorite brewery downtown to Bubblegum Alley and the Mission. Then we headed off to the beach, Spooner’s Cove at Montana de Oro, to be specific. The best sunset’s on the west coast can be found here, the colors were so intense, we all felt so lucky!!

This is a funny entry: one where I went on a vacation and came back with wedding photos to edit!I think this might be one of my favorite vacations ever, being gaga over all things weddings.

My dear friend invited me on a dream vacation that’s been on my bucket list for ages: a visit to a real dude ranch! I could bust out my vintage cowboy boots! I could bust out my cowgirl snap shirts! I could bust out my big silver belt buckle! Being a Colorado native, one must keep up appearances…

Anyhow, we had been high up in the mountains at Sundance Trail Guest Ranch for three days, and on that particular Wednesday during dinner in the dining room, in walks a couple looking tired from travel–and the woman is carrying a big white garment bag!!!! Whaaaat!?!? Oooooh!!! Ahhhh!!! Could it…. could it…. be… A WEDDING DRESS?!?! Never being a person ever to shy away from the possibility of talking to a couple about a wedding, I blurted out, “Are you guys getting married?!” Most likely I resembled that emoji with hearts in its eyes, my hands clasped in prayer, fingers wiggling underneath my chin.

Upon hearing her say, “Yes we are!” in an Australian accent, that was it! It was all over! My besty is an Aussie who lives with her lovely family in Melbourne. I’ve visited three times; she’s visited me three times. I almost feel like I’ve got duel citizenship. I’m all about Australia!

So long story short, I curled the bride’s hair, photographed their dream elopement high in the Rocky Mountains and came home with a wedding to edit–along with some bruises and epic stories of bravery, pushing myself outside of my comfort zones multiple times on this adventurism vacay.

A big shout out to Sundance Trail Guest Ranch’s Ellen and Dan. This Aussie couple found them after looking in multiple American states for the perfect dude ranch (even Texas!!!). All the other ranches were so rigid with their rules, but Ellen and Dan gave them free range with their plans, most likely knowing it’s more about the couple’s experience than trying to cast them into the same experience everyone else has.

So if you’re looking for an amazing vacation filled with wild abandon and adventure, or a great place to get married, this is it: Sundance Trail Guest Ranch in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. https://www.sundancetrail.com

Charles and Peggy’s wedding reception tonight was up at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley! The theme of their wedding was a travel one entitled, “Going Places” so this seemed so appropriate! Rock on, Charles and Peggy! I wish you all the utter joy of determination, discovery and destination in life! Oh, and enjoy Hawaii! 🙂

What luck! Emma and Jonathan wanted to do a wedding portrait session at Castello di Amorosa! It’s a 13th century Tuscan-inspired castle in Calistoga and wanted me to join them! It’s an honest-to-God, castle at the tip of the Napa Valley!

We were just finishing in the Great Hall and I mentioned to our guide, “I would’ve loved to have gotten her up on that table..” Voilà!

On a Saturday night in early April of 2013, two perfect strangers, Brent and Ziru, were just living their separate lives in Boston, MA. That night, they were both feeling lazy and reluctant to go out. However, they were both dragged out by their friends (who were much more fun, accordingly) to the same place: a lounge. A friend of Brent’s grew tired of hanging out with JUST guys and asked Brent to pick a gal from the lounge. After Brent pointed out Ziru in the crowd, the friend was well on his way to strike up conversation with Ziru and her girlfriends. After a forced introduction, the two groups started mingling with joy… drinking, talking, a few awkward silences, and phone numbers… time just flew by.

Ziru and Brent had the most fantastical and elegant wedding day, but the two are really such goofs- it was so fun to see their personalities come out during the wedding day! From sassy portraits to Ziru’s dad photo bombing one of our sessions- it was an utterly delightful day!

With all this rain (!) we’ve been having- the rainiest season on record- I read today! It’s just starting to dry out! Whaaat!?!?! So let me loose- I want to start taking engagement photos again! Here’s a handful from Clint and Shanda’s e-sesh. They’re moving from the Bay area soon and wanted to remember the city they’ll miss. They’re getting married this weekend! Stay tuned!

Grace and Chen were married at San Francisco’s City Hall two days ago and we had Grace pose in a window. She so exemplified the feel of the building with this classic, art deco pose with the same style of window- it was mighty fun!

Grace and Chen are being married in China next month, but wanted to do their wedding portraits on the west coast of California! Lucky us! My partner, Edwin and I had such a beautiful sunset to work with and they were thrilled with the outcome! Yay!

Jeremy and Ernest and their family celebrated their God-given right to marry in San Francisco’s City Hall last week. Flying in from Louisiana, it was a honor to witness and to shed tears with these two lovely men!

Well, I guess it’s apparent that I’m not the best at blogging! I’d much rather get my couples their wedding photos in under two weeks! With 9 weddings in August and my average is 10 days in getting photos back to my couples, I guess it’s how I like to operate! With that said, here are a few from this month, but I still have two weddings left! Yay! Seriously- there’s no one who loves a wedding more than me! : )

I just adore photographing weddings at the Purple Orchid Resort and Spa in Livermore! When Georgia and Gabe were married a few weeks ago, we got this lovely, subtle moment of the veil being secured into place. ♥